Central Catholic Safety Brooklyn Cheek Calls it For Cal

The Bears picked up 2024 commitment #3 today in 6-2/180 3 star Central Catholic (Modesto, CA) High School safety Brooklyn Cheek.

As a junior, Cheek had 37 tackles and three interceptions for his 8-5 Central Catholic squad who played a tough non-league schedule that included top-ranked national team St. John Bosco, NorCal open division champs Serra-San Mateo, St. Mary’s Stockton and St. Francis-Mountain View. 

“And I've been saying it since he was a little kid in eighth grade and it's kind of to me stayed true in a lot of ways. And I feel like it's something that you know, everyone's gonna get a preview here shortly. I think he's the best safety I've seen in California in his class in my opinion," said KT Prep head trainer and De La Salle defensive coordinator Nate Kenion.

“He has his offers from Oregon, ASU, WSU and some others but honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t blow up even more with his length and skills. I'm really happy that he's going to Cal, though. I've been telling them from the jump that I thought Cal was the place for him. I like what (Cal DB coaches) Tre (Watson) and Terrance (Brown) do over there. They do a really good job with their DBs. The system that (DC Peter) Sirmon runs, I feel like that's one that he'll fit into really well.”

Cheek will be joining fellow KT Prep safety Sailasa Vadrawale‍, who will be coming in this fall. The veteran coach sees parallels in their games.

“He can cover just like Sai,” noted Kenion. “He's like Sai in a lot of ways but taller. I mean, he could cover man-to-man in the slot, he could run with slot receivers, he could play corner. He's a willing tackler. So with how they utilize their safeties and the success they've had with their safeties. I think he's gonna be really good.

He's probably more of 11 flat 100 type of guy. 40-wise, he's gonna be a high 4.5 type of guy. He’s a junior who's still I think growing into his body and his dad is 6’4.  I think he only ran the 100 once but as a pure straight-line guy. He's not slow at all.

“He definitely has a functional side of the football speed and he has ability I've always kind of drooled over in a sense. He covers from centerfield to sideline, like really well. He anticipates quarterbacks throwing the ball, reading shoulders, all that kind of stuff. He has a natural instinct for that, whether it's a 2-high look or a deep middle centerfield, he does that really well. And with them having three four seniors this year at safety, I know that they're looking for guys who can come in and contribute right away.

“He's very competitive. very coachable. He's a kid who wants to be the best. I mean, he’s constantly asking questions. I could think back to when we were in Florida, and he went and he got an interception. He came back and said, 'I took a bad angle. So he's like that type of kid you know, where you're not just comfortable and settled with the idea of being good. Like, he always wanted to almost perfect his movements and his craft.”

Cheek joins Pasadena tight end Camden Jones‍ and Westlake Austin OT Tyler Knape‍ as the first three members of Cal’s 2024 recruiting class.